Railway-switch and operating mechanism



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. & A. SGHEID. RAILWAY "SWITGH AND OPERATING MECHANISM N0.'584,016. Patented June 8,1897.

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(No Model.) v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. C. 8a A. SGHEID. RAILWAY SWITCH AND OPERATING MECHANISM.

Patented June 8, 1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

CARL SGHEID AND ADAM SCHEID, OF HARRISON, NEYV JERSEY.

RAILWAY-SWITCH AND OPERATING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 584,016, dated June 8, 1897.

Application filed November 20, 1896. Serial No. 612,805. {No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CARL SCHEID and ADAM SCHEID, citizens of the United States, residing at Harrison, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Switch es and Operating Mechanism; and we do hereby declare the following to beafull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has reference to that class of switches for surface railways which are automatic in their action and are provided with a controlling mechanism adapted to be actuated by means of independentmechanism arranged beneath the platform of a car, which can be controlled by a person on said platform to actuate the parts of the switch-controlling mechanism.

The invention has for its primary object to provide an automatic and perfectly-operating device of this character which is under the control of the operator on the platform of the car to cause the latter to run in a straight direction on the main track or to turn off therefrom, as may be desired.

The invention therefore consists in the novel construction of switch operating and controlling mechanism herein set forth and in the novel arrangementsand combinations of parts and details of construction to be fully described in the accompanying specification and finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of aportion of arailway-carwith the novel form of switch controlling and operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the platform of a car and the switch-controlling mechanism with the mechanism for operating the switch mechanism illustrated in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a side View, and Fig. 4; a front view, of a pivoted arm provided with a wheel or roller adapted to be brought into operative engagement with the switch-controlling mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the switch-controlling mechanism arranged between the rails, illustrating in connection therewith, partly in front elevation and partly in section, a pair of operating-arms pivotally se cured in a shaft in bearings beneath the platform of the car. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the switch-controlling mechanism, and Fig. 7 is a detail view illustrating the switch-tongue in cross-section and the pivotal connection of the lever or rod for operating the switchtongue on a slightly-enlarged scale. Fig. 8 is a side view of a hand-lever pivotally arranged on the platform of a car for operat ing the switch-controlling mechanism, and Fig. 9 is a plan view of a portion of the plat-- form of a car and spring-bearings in connection with which said hand-lever is to be used. Fig. 10 is a sectional View of a. SWllZGlI-CO11- trolling mechanism of a slightly-modified form of construction, but still embodying the principles of the present invention.

Similar letters of reference are employed in all of the above-described views to indicate corresponding parts.

In said drawings, a and a are the two rails. 19 is a suitable switch-tongue pivotally arranged in the channel 19 connected with the rail a, and b is the usual form of frog in the rail a. Said switch-tongue h is provided on its under side with a downweirdly-extending stud or finger Z2 which is capable of a lateral movement in a slot a in the rail a and extends through the upper portion of said rail and down along the side of the web thereof, as clearly indicated in Figs. 5 and i0.

Secured to the webs a of the two rails are a pair of plates 0 and 0, having suitable supporting lugs or projections 0 on which are placed the plates 0 and c in the manner shown, with a guide-plate (Z between them, said parts thus forming a suitable casing, substantially as illustrated in the several figures of the drawings. Pivotally arranged on a pin 6, which is secured in the sides of said plates 0 and c, is a cam-plate 6, provided with a downwardly-extending part c and two oppositely-projecting horns e and c Operatively connected with a pin h on the stud or finger b and with a suitable pin or stud e on the part c of said cam-plate e is a connecting bar or lever f, substantially as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. Said guide-plate d, hereinabove mentioned, is provided with a pair of longitudinally-arranged grooves (Z and (1 which are parallel with the rails a and a, said grooves being provided with openings (1 in each of which there is a movable block (Z preferably provided with the upper curved surfaces (1 Said blocks (1 are loosely arranged upon the horns e and e of the camplate 6 and are provided with suitable shoulders cl, projecting from the sides thereof, substantially as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 10, to prevent the withdrawal of the said blocks from the openings d in the grooves d and (Z after these parts have been arranged in their operative positions between the rails a and a.

In lieu of the pivotal arrangement of the cam-plate e (illustrated more especially in Fig. 5) the portion 6 of said plate may be pivotally arranged on the pin 8, as represented in Fig. 10, and on a pin or stud c on said plate 6 is pivoted a screw-socket in which can be adjustably arranged the screw-threaded end f of a rod or lever f, which is pivotally connected at its opposite end with the stud or finger b on the switclrtongue b. A lock-nut f may be employed on the threaded end portion of the rod or lever f, which can be screwed against the end of the socket g when the said rod or lever has been adjusted in its operative position to retain said rod or lever in this position. From an inspection of said Figs. 5 and 10 it will be seen that the arrangement of the several parts of the mechanism for controlling the movement of the switch-tongue Z) is such that it may be reversed to suit the position of said tongue when placed in either of the rails a or a to produce a right or left turnout in the rails.

In order to operate the blocks (Z connected with the guide-plate (Z, to operate the switchcontrolling mechanism, a pair of arms h and 7t are employed, which are provided at the top with perforated eyes 71 for pivotally securing them on a journal or shaft 72, suitably fixed in position in a pair of bearings 7L and 7L5, secured to the bottom of the platform of a car by means of the screws or bolts 7L6. Said arms h and 7b are provided with the perforated ends h or other suitable means, with which are connected the ends of suitable springs 71. having their opposite ends attached to the bottom of the body of the car to normally hold said arms h and h in their raised positions, as will be clearly understood. In some instances said arms 7L and 77. may be provided with perforated lugs or cars It on their under sides, in which may be secured a pin j and a wheel or roller j, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, for operating the blocks (1, instead of the lower part of said arms, which can be brought into operative sliding contact with said blocks d, as particularly indicated in Fig. 2.

In operative sliding engagement with suitably-recessed portions 72, in the arms h and h are a pair of vertically-arranged push-rods and 70, which are operatively held and re ciprocate in suitable bearings secured to the platform of the car, and which consist, essentially, of an upper plate Z and alowerplate Z, permanently secured to the top and bottom of the platform by means of bolts Z in the manner shown. To properly-guide said arms or posts 75 and 7s, the lower plate Z is provided with a long socket Z and detachably connected with the upper end of each arm or post 70 and 7c is a plug k upon which the operator can place his foot to force either of said rods ft and k in a downward direction and by so doing operating the proper arm h or h and the block cl in engagement therewith as it passes over the latter during the forward movement of the car on the rails to and a, as clearly illustrated in-said Fig. 2. According to the operative engagement of either one or said blocks d" the horns e and e on the said cam-plate c are forced over to the right or the left, as the case may he, and in conse quence the switch-tongue 12 receives a corresponding action or motion to open or close the switch.

As will be seen from Fig. 6, the rear end f of the guideplate (1 may also be provided with down wardly-proj ectin g lugs (1, whereby said end can be secured, by means of suitable bolts m, to a cross piece or rod 0%, suitably connected with the webs of the rails t and a to more firmly fasten said guide-plate (Z in its proper position between the rails.

In place of the mechanism just described for operating the blocks d connected with the switch-controlling mechanism, a handlever 0 may be employed, which is provided at the bottom with a roller or wheel 0 and at the top with a handpiece 0 and also with the oppositely-projecting pivots 0 for operatively and pivotally securing said lever 0 beneath the spring-tongues n of two plates or bearings n and n, secured on the platform of the car. The action of said lever o to operate the controlling mechanism of the switch will be clearly evident from an inspection of Fig. 8, and one lever may be used to engage either of the blocks 61 by providing the platform or the ear with a slot 19, in which said lever is movably arranged, whereby said lever 0 can be forced from the spring-tongues on the plate at, moved along said slot 19, and again operatively connected with the spring-tongues of the plate a to open or close the switch, as may be necessary.

While we prefer to retain the details of construction herein shown, it is manifest that they may be variously modified without departing from the scope of our invention, and we therefore do not limit our invention to the exact details of construction herein shown. although the construction presented in the drawings is deemed the best, the same being simple, easy of manipulation, and not liable to get out of order.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1. In a switch, the combination, with the switch-tongue in one of the rails, having a downwardlyprojecting stnd or finger, of a casing between said rails, consisting, essen- I tially, of plates c and c, covers 0 and c and a guide-plate (Z, a cam-plate e pivotally arranged between said plates 0 and 0, having a pair of horns e and e, and a rod or lever operatively connecting said cam-plate with the stud or finger on the switch tongue, grooves d and d in said gnid e-plate (1 having openings, blocks (1" in said openings and resting in operative engagement on the horns of said cam-plate, and mechanism adapted to engage with said blocks, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a mechanism for operating railwayswitches, a pair of spring actuated arms, pivoted on a shaft in bearings on the platform of a car, and vertical rods, as 7e and 76, adapted to reciprocate in hearings on the platform, said rods being in operative sliding engagement with said arms, all in combination, with a switch-controlling mechanism arranged between said :rails, adapted to be actuated by said spring-actnated arms, when depressed, consisting, essentially, of casing arranged at rightangles between and connected with the rails, comprising plates c and 0, covers and c, a switchtongue-operating mechanism between said covers, a cam-plate e, pivotally arranged in said casing, having a pair of horns e and c, all in a plane at right angles to the sides of the rails, a switch-tongue in one of the rails, and a rod or lever moving and operating in a plane at right angles to the sides of the rails and connecting said camplate with said switch-tongue, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a mechanism for operating railwayswitches, a pair of spring actuated arms, pivoted. on a shaft in bearings on the platform of a car, and vertical rods, as 70 and 70, adapted to reciprocate in hearings on the platform, said rods being in operative sliding engagement with said arms, all in combination, with a switch-controlling mechanism arranged between said rails, adapted to be actuated by said spring-actuated arms, when depressed,

consisting, essentially, of a casing arranged at right angles between and connected with the rails, comprising plates 0 and 0', covers 0 and a a switch-tongue-operating mechanism between said covers, a cam-plate e pivotally arranged in said casing, having a pair of horns e and 6 all in a plane at right angles to the sides of the rails, a switch-tongue in one of said rails, and a rod or lever moving and operating in a plane at right angles to the sides of the rails and connecting said camplate with said switclrtongue, a guide-plate (Z arrranged above said cam-plate, having grooves therein provided with openings, and blocks, as cl, in said openings, resting in 0perative engagement on the horns of said cam- 'plate, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a mechanism for operating railwayswitches, a pair of spring-actuated arms, pivoted on a shaft in hearings on the platform of a car, and vertical rods, as 7i; and 70, adapted to reciprocate in bearings on the platform, said rods being in operative sliding contact with said arms, all in combination, with a switch-controlling mechanism arranged between the rails, and adapted to be actuated by said spring-actuated arms, when depressed, consisting, essentially, of a casing between the rails, comprising therein, plates 0 and 0', covers 0 and c and a guide-plate cl, a camplate a pivot-ally arranged between said plates 0 and 0, having a pair of horns e and e, a switch-tongue in one of said rails, and a rod or lever operatively connecting said cam-plate with said switch-tongue, grooves d and d in said guide-plate d having openings, and blocks, as (1 in said openings resting in operative engagement on the horns of said cam-plate, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that We claim the invention set forth above we have hereunto set our hands this 10th day 01": November, 1896.

CARL SOI'IEID. ADAM SCIIEID. Witnesses FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL, \VM. H. CAMFIELD, J r. 

